The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood to remove excess fluids and waste. Kidney disease and a resulting loss of function can occur when the blood flow to the kidney is interrupted, the filters (known as the glomeruli) become damaged or diseased or the flow of urine is obstructed. Chronic kidney failure is the gradual loss of function which can be dangerous, according to the Mayo Clinic, especially as symptoms often go unnoticed until at least 25 percent of kidney function is lost.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease characterized by a high level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. When food is consumed, it is broken down (metabolized) into glucose, the main source of energy for the cells. In order to move from the blood into the cells to be utilized, the glucose requires the help of the enzyme insulin, produced in the pancreas. People who have diabetes have either a low level of insulin or their bodies are unable to use the insulin, leaving glucose stranded in the blood.
The increase in blood glucose causes the kidneys to work harder when filtering the blood. Over time, this can damage the kidneys. As the kidneys lose their ability to filter effectively, waste products accumulate in the blood leading to kidney failure. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) reports that up to 44 percent of all cases of chronic kidney failure are caused by diabetes.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, known as hypertension, is an increase in the force of blood against the walls of blood vessels. Over time, high blood pressure can damage the heart and the blood vessels throughout the body.
When the blood vessels in the kidneys are damaged, the kidneys are not able to effectively filter the blood. In addition to the waste products, excess fluids may remain in the blood which increases blood pressure even more. After diabetes, blood pressure is the second most common cause of chronic kidney failure. It accounts for approximately 25,000 new cases per year, according to the NKUDIC.
Obstruction
Any condition that inhibits the normal flow of urine can result in vesicoureteral reflux, which causes urine to back up from the bladder into the kidneys. In men, an enlarged prostate can constrict the urethra, interrupting urine flow. Other conditions include kidney stones and tumors of the kidney or bladder.
Toxins
The body is continuously exposed to a number of environmental toxins. As these toxins such as lead, fuels or solvents are absorbed, they can trigger a number of responses. Lead exposure is associated with high blood pressure, according to an October 2007 report published in Medical News Today. The kidneys are vulnerable to all toxins that enter the body because all blood must filter through the kidneys.
